Month-long amnesty calls on owners in Devon and Cornwall to hand in now-illegal firearms
People are being urged to check if their previously lawful weapon is one of five now classified as illegal
Devon and Cornwall Police say they remain proactive in keeping weapons off the streets, as a month long firearm amnesty comes into force today (February 2).
People are being urged to check if their previously lawful weapon is one of five now classified as illegal and to hand them in safely through the month.
The four-week firearms amnesty (February 2-27) is being held by police forces across England and Wales.
Five models of Bruni guns have been found to be readily convertible and are therefore illegal to possess.
What imitation firearms are included?
The following Bruni-manufactured imitation firearms, previously lawful to own, are now illegal to possess:
8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 92 blank firing self-loading pistol
8mm PAK Bruni BBM New Police blank firing self-loading pistol
8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 96 blank firing self-loading pistol
8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model ‘GAP’ blank firing self-loading pistol
380R (9mmK) PAK Bruni BBM ME Ranger single-action blank firing revolver
Owners can surrender these weapons at designated police stations during the amnesty period without fear of prosecution or needing to provide personal information. Police will check the history of any live firearms handed in for evidence of criminal activity.
How to surrender a firearm
People are urged to confirm surrender locations and opening times with their local police force and to follow official advice on responsible transportation of firearms from their home to the police station.
Devon and Cornwall, Chief Inspector Rob Curtis said:
“We urge anyone who owns one of these to hand it in to their local police station.
“Gun crime in Devon & Cornwall is very low, but we remain proactive in keeping weapons off the streets.
"Together with our partners we continually work hard to educate people about firearms and the dangers that come with them, to ensure that gun crime doesn’t become prevalent in the future.”
Police say possession of one of the guns after the amnesty ends could result in a prison sentence of 10 years.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for the Criminal Use of Firearms, said:
“Blank firer weapons are legal to buy in the UK as they are designed to discharge only blank cartridges, however policing and our partners are constantly working to ensure firearms don’t fall into the wrong hands or pose a risk to the public.
“When we identify that any models can be easily converted to a functioning firearm, it is crucial that we do all we can to remove those models from sale and circulation.
“We work closely with the National Crime Agency to identify and disrupt workshops being set up by criminals to convert blank firers in to potentially lethal weapons, and this four-week amnesty will support those efforts.
"Anyone who is in possession of a top or side-venting firearm which has been manufactured by Bruni is urged to check the model to see if it is one which is now illegal to possess, and if so, safely surrender it at their nearest police station.”